A MILLION-pound extension at the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher is due to go ahead.

A project to transform the ground floor space in the hospice was granted planning permission last week.

The hospice recently received a government grant for £482,639 from the Department of Health towards the cost of the work. The shortfall will come from trust funds and grants.

Nicki Shaw, hospice chief executive, said: “The new space will offer a sense of normality for patients as they will be able to leave their clinical environment and take part in everyday activities such as having a meal with family or using the internet.

"Distressed relatives will be able to access private space quickly, away from the ward, through the use of differing furniture heights and small clusters of seating, and people waiting for counselling or bereavement sessions will have a waiting area away from the public.”

The reception, coffee and dining areas will be redesigned and refurbished for group activities and private meetings.

The children’s area will get a makeover while extra treatment rooms will be created on the ground floor for out-of-hours therapy for patients and carers.

Kathy Birch, therapies and day hospice manager, said she was excited about the changes, which would make the hospice "more multifunctional".

Ms Birch said: “We will be able to develop more of our services.

“From my point of view, we will be able to put on more activities, perhaps a community choir which will be able to involve the local community, patients and families.”